RabiesBy: Erin long & caroline hale

Classification: virus

What is rabies?

A contagious and fatal viral disease of dogs and other mammals which causes madness and convulsions, transmittable through saliva to humans; eventually, the virus causes inflammation of the brain. Another name for rabies would be hydrophobia because one of the later symptoms is the fear of water.

Symptoms:

Tingling or twitching sensations around animal bite

Fever

Headache

Muscle aches

Loss of appetite

Nausea

Fatigue

Later developed symptoms include:

Fear of water (thus, the "hydrophobia" term)

Delirium

Anxiety and throat spasms

Mode of operation:

99% of rabies cases are transmitted to humans from wild animals (aka: rabbits, raccoons, and skunks). The majority of beings who are affected by rabies, are domestic dogs and cats.

Where are affected persons found?

Rabies is present in all continents (except Antarctica), but over 95% of human deaths occur in Asia and Africa.

Most common injury done to the victim:

Rabid dog bites account for tens of millions of humans, annually.

Apart from dogs, 5 million people are being bit by snakes

Annually: cat and monkeys account for the lesser amount of rabies bites but still a good amount.

On another note, once a victim has been bitten by an infected animal, he/she has a 20% chance of developing rabies if one does not seek out immediate treatment.

Danger degree of Rabies

Rabies is considered deadly, but it is also easily preventable and 100% treatable. There is a fast acting shot that will treat this.